Speaking once all scores were on the doors and the stage win was secured, the former under 23 Italian national time trial champion Affini said: “It was probably more stressful staying in the hot seat than doing the time trial. But it was worth it.

“I managed to do a good time trial, and pace myself well, so I was able to give everything on the way back home.”

How it happened

The 14.4 kilometre test in Pershore, Worcestershire sent riders on a loop traversing traditional Malvern B roads and small country lanes.

A 500 metre ramp, averaging 6.8 per cent, reared its head within the first two kilometres, before flatter roads let riders settle into more of a rhythm ahead of the gradual descent to the line.

Affini, twelfth rider off, set an early time of 16 minutes 39 seconds which was good enough to see him remain in the hot seat even as his team mate, final rider Matteo Trentin, set off almost two hours later.

British National time trial champion Alex Dowsett, off 51st around 40 minutes later, was the fastest through the intermediate time split at the time in 9-11, to Affini’s 9-12.

However, Dowsett’s finishing time saw him roll in 13s adrift of the Italian in the top spot, eventually pacing in seventh.

In the end the quickest intermediate check went to the trio of Tanel Kangert (EF Education First), Van der Poel and Trentin – all three tied at 9-04, Kangert eventually earning fifth on the stage.

With just two riders left to threaten the top spot, the closest rider to Affini was 71st off, Langeveld (EF Education First), in a time of 16-46, which had pushed Van Baarle (Ineos) into third also 7s back.

Once Van der Poel charged through the finish line in 16-51, there was only one rider left to threaten Affini’s win.

Trentin stopped the clock at 17-08 – leaving the podium as before and also representing a re-shuffle in the GC as Van der Peol moved into green.